Staff Spotlight: Shelley Krehbiel and Rich Klein
July 31st, 2025
Meet Shelley Krehbiel & Rich Klein — The Rally’s Ultimate Support Team
When it comes to keeping the Rebelle Rally running smoothly, married couple Shelley Krehbiel and Rich Klein are the dynamic duo behind the scenes. Course workers, staff managers, part problem-solvers, part navigators, and entirely indispensable, they’ve been rally mainstays since day one.
With decades of experience in off-road adventures and event logistics, Shelley and Rich don’t just manage checkpoints. They are the calm, collected voices ensuring every competitor safely finds their way home. They are usually managing the first checkpoint of the day, sweeping the course to make sure everyone gets to basecamp safely. Whether shepherding lost vehicles through the darkness or handing out chocolate at checkpoints, their dedication turns intense rally days into unforgettable experiences. As an organization, we cannot do it without them. We are incredibly thankful for Shelley and Rich’s unwavering support, expertise, and unmatched commitment. They are part of the heart and soul of the Rebelle Rally. Their presence makes the event possible and exceptional in every way.
As we celebrate 10 years of Rebelle, Shelley and Rich continue to raise the bar. Each year feels just as special as the first. Here’s to the next decade, Shelley and Rich!
You’ve been part of the Rebelle Rally since the beginning. What inspired you to get involved? What keeps you coming back?
Let me start with why we keep coming back! The Rebelle Rally is our favorite event of the year, and that’s saying something – we generally participate in upwards of 20 events each year! The energy surrounding the event inspires us to keep dreaming, continue honing our skills, and always surround ourselves with people we admire and care about.
When the Rebelle was first announced, I found myself watching the social media teasers, so when the website went live, I was ready. I hopped on and read the first page – it talked all about the off-road driving skills needed and I realized that while I spend a lot of time off- road, I am seldom in the driver’s seat. So I moved to page two.
The second page told me all about the navigation required, and being brutally honest with myself, I knew that also was not my skillset.
I turned to Rich and said, “Hey honey, you know Emily Miller, right?” He had no idea why I asked.
“Yes, I know Emily,” he responded.
“Will you call her and ask if we can volunteer for the Rebelle Rally?” I asked. He looked at me confused, looked at the website, and then picked up the phone.
As he was dialing, he cautiously asked me, “You really want to do this?” and I enthusiastically replied, “I DO!”
Emily was gracious enough to allow us to show up, none of us knowing what to expect, and it has been a great growth experience for everyone on the rally, me, especially!
You’re often the first ones up and the last ones back. What does a typical day look like for you during the rally?
In the early days, I thought there would be a lot of down time during the day, because we were out so early and late. I never expected how much mental capacity the rally takes. We are out of basecamp before the first driver, often staffing the first green checkpoint. It’s an opportunity to evaluate how the competitors are feeling about their day. After the last competitors pass through, we start seriously tracking each vehicle. Our goal is that everyone makes it back safely to basecamp at the end of the day.
We sweep the vehicles, respond to issues, chase down errant cars, follow tracking and scoring, replace trackers, hand out chocolate, essentially, whatever it takes. By mid-afternoon, we’re often shepherding lost vehicles between green checkpoints so they can re-start their rally before the day is over. Busby (our beloved Rebelle fueler of Merit Oil), is thrilled to see us in the fuel line, because it means the last car is within view. We follow that with a great meal, a review of the next day so we know who is placing and picking up flags/poles. The first few days of year one, it never occurred to me that all the flags had to be picked up at the end. It’s one of the many tasks that just kind of happens with our fab course crew.
From manning checkpoints to running sweeps and making sure everyone gets in safely, what part of your roles do you find most rewarding?
While we love the interaction with the teams and course crew, our favorite part of the day is problem solving. We get to quarterback the decisions and placements of crew based on the needs at the time. One night we had four vehicles trying to find a new basecamp in the dark. One had bypassed it and was speeding down a highway. Three others were lost in the desert. We get to assign who goes where and how we’re getting them back safely. With just map and compass, the fall of darkness is a game changer. We won’t disturb their rally while they are within time, but once the clock runs out, all we care about is getting the teams home.
Rally life can be intense. As staff like to say, “We have our own rally.” How do you stay grounded and energized throughout the long days?
Café Moto coffee helps, but really, it’s being able to be together and trying to anticipate each other’s needs. It’s what we base our whole relationship on during the other 355 days of the year, so we keep it front and center during the rally as well. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so well, we like to let the right person shine with their skills. We think we are the most fortunate team within a team within a team on the Rally because we get to work with each other.
After all these years, you’ve seen a lot. Any unforgettable or unexpected moments that still make you laugh?
The stories we could tell! Whenever we get together with Rebelles (in the wild) we tell stories of things we’ve seen. We don’t name names or remember years, but oh my gosh, it has been fun.
Some have been high-profile so we’re ok mentioning them. Like the year Sugar High crashed in the dunes and Andrea showed up at our checkpoint asking for help. I sat with Michelle in the dunes like the mom that I am.
Or the year a team, that shall remain nameless, went rogue. Every. Damn. Day. We chased them through the harshest deserts trying to get them on track. One time Emily pulled up and asked us to facilitate getting a vendor truck unstuck from the sand. Rich reached out to his resources in the area and figured it out. It took a 6×6 to haul it out, but it got done.
My favorite was standing in line for the bathrooms in the dark on Day 1 of year 1. The competitor standing beside me told me she was out of her depth and didn’t belong there. I encouraged her as best I could, but was honestly feeling the same. On Day 2, we stood in the same line and I asked her again how she was. She told me “We nailed it!” with so much
enthusiasm, I was so proud of her.
That’s the Rebelle in a nutshell, high highs and low lows. Emily encourages us to ride the middle of the emotion wagon, but sometimes…
From year one to now, what changes or evolutions have stood out the most to you?
The team is so dialed. When we began we had a mild understanding of what needed to happen. Our course team quickly fell into place, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have some missteps along the way. Since then, all teams have just gelled into the best they can be. While with any group of people there are changes along the way, the dynamic of the Rebelle staff is second to none.
What’s something you always pack for the rally? What are your personal must-haves?
We treat the Rebelle like any other camping trip. We pack for every potential weather occurrence. Our personal must-haves include a little extra lip balm, a clipboard or three (to do our job well), and the ARB (to keep everything cold).
What’s your world like outside the rally? What do you do when you’re not chasing checkpoints or teams?
We are so fortunate to get to define our days, and each day is different. I hear we are of retirement age now, so we have started divesting some of our businesses. We recently sold our boutique hotel and closed our off-road magazine, but we still work behind the scenes at WE Rock, the competitive rockcrawling series that Rich founded 25 years ago. In addition, Rich sits on the Board of Directors for the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Rubicon Trail Foundation, as well as producing a weekly podcast called “Conversations with Big Rich.” Shelley is currently the Executive Director of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, a new position for her that pulls together her myriad of skills. She also consults for a few businesses, writes, and is the Staff Manager for the Rebelle Rally. Our primary role, though, is as a caregiver for Rich’s aging mother.
After nearly a decade of Rebelle experience, what does the rally mean to you?
The Rebelle is an experience. It can bring out the best or the worst in a human. We’ve seen both. I don’t want to call it empowering because that’s such a buzzword, but it truly can show you where your strengths lie. It can also expose your weaknesses and provide an opportunity to grow. I think it’s important to place yourself outside your comfort zone sometime during each year so you can tap into your resourcefulness. That’s what the Rebelle does for us. We leave happily exhausted and excited about what comes next, because if you can Rebelle for ten years, there is very little else you can’t do.
Lastly, any words of wisdom for competitors?
To Rebelle Competitors: You are all so brave and we admire you so much for accepting the challenges that get thrown your way. You are never alone out there, so slow down, stay on your toes, breathe deep, and remember winning doesn’t change the fabulous human you are. Embrace the suck, celebrate the highs and look up. Look at the scenery others will never see and spend time with the people. They are the best in the world.
